William A. Webster
Experience
- Practice focuses on nationwide catastrophic loss trial work arising from fires and explosions caused by a wide range of product and construction practices.
- Experienced in catastrophic fires, floods, explosions, chemical leaks, fire spread issues, equipment failures, production facility losses, and mechanical failures involving a diverse range of products and process equipment, generators and turbines, industrial equipment, consumer products and losses caused by welders, construction workers, equipment operators, manufacturers, suppliers, and repair/maintenance providers.
- Practice also focuses on product liability litigation for subrogated insurers as well as individuals and corporations and prosecution and defense of product and casualty claims and actions.
- Representative cases include catastrophes occurring in warehouses, shopping malls, manufacturing facilities, production/chemical plants, oil refineries, underground pipelines, power generating plants, and construction sites.
Selected Results*
Represented foreign businesses and foreign and domestic insurers in an international arbitration under ICC Rules involving the collapse of a large OSB press and a resulting fire. The loss occurred in Canada and was arbitrated in Paris and Zurich.
Trial counsel in inverse condemnation case in Los Angeles involving fire caused by defective transformer and resulting in multi-million dollar recovery.
Obtained $5,800,000 settlement for subrogated insurer after winning liability phase of an inverse condemnation trial.
Co-trial counsel in the representation of several foreign and domestic insurance companies in litigation arising from the Olympic pipeline rupture and explosion in Bellingham, Washington. As a result of the unavailability of the pipeline, Atlantic Richfield sustained business interruption and extra expense losses. The litigation involved the resolution of coverage issues with Atlantic Richfield and a subrogation action against the owner and operator of the pipeline. The subrogation case settled for a confidential amount a month before trial was scheduled to begin in federal court in Seattle
Represented insurers and individuals in recovery of property damage and personal injuries arising from St. Cloud, Minnesota Pipeline Explosion Litigation.
Multi-million dollar recovery for property insurer in large fire at rolled paper warehouse in Michigan, including cause and fire spread issues.
Multi-million dollar recovery for insurer in fire spread case arising from fire in warehouse facility in Southern Minnesota involving violations of building code requirements for separation walls.
Represented property insurer in recovery of damages caused by fire at historic University building.
Defended crane company in action arising from incident at oil refinery.
Represented insurance company in defense of $12 million arson claim dismissed on summary judgment. See RSBI Aerospace v. Affiliated FM Insurance Company, 49 F.3d 399 (8th Cir. 1995).
Represented trucking company in defense of action alleging invasion of privacy. Case was dismissed by motion and affirmed by Minnesota Supreme Court. See Bodah v. Lakeville Motor Express, Inc., 663 N.W.2d 550 (Minn. 2003).
Subrogation recovery for property insurer against multiple parties for damages caused by defective stainless steel pipe at chemical fertilizer factory in Missouri.
Subrogation recovery for insurer for losses caused by defective refrigeration system in large cold storage facility in Iowa.
Assisted insurer in evaluating subrogation potential of hundreds of claims arising from Northridge, California earthquake.
Subrogation recovery for damages caused by hydrochloric acid leak in computer chip manufacturing facility.
Memberships
- Minnesota State Bar Association
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Minnesota
Education
- William Mitchell College of Law, J.D. (1988), Member of the William Mitchell Law Review
- University of Minnesota, B.A.
Selected Speeches
- Has given several presentations on legal issues related to insurance litigation, fire science, construction contracts and waivers, fire investigation, and large loss investigations.
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